2 Central Massachusetts men, featured in High Times magazine, face federal charges in connection with pot grow operation

SPRINGFIELD - Two Central Massachusetts men have been charged in U.S. District Court in connection with a marijuana grow operation that was featured in High Times magazine.

Peter Molle, 35, of Holland, was arrested Friday and charged with manufacturing marijuana and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, according to a release issued by United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.

Eric Vallee, 38, of Sutton, was arrested last Friday and charged with manufacturing marijuana and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute.

Vallee, according to the release, was featured in a magazine article noting that he regularly harvests 10 pounds of marijuana based on a cultivation timetable that would result in his harvesting hundreds of pounds of marijuana per year.

Although the release does not elaborate on the article, both men appear in a Feb. 13 High Times article titled 'New England's Patriot Pot Growers."

Both Valle and Molle used bank accounts that featured large amounts of cash deposits that were consistent with the proceeds of drug sales, according to the release.

In February, agents executed search warrants at a house in Auburn where Vallee then resided, at a house in Sutton where Vallee had previously resided, and at a house in Holland where Molle resided, according to the release.

At each location, agents discovered commercial-style marijuana grow operations. More than 100 marijuana plants were found at Vallee's Auburn residence, more than 100 marijuana plants at Molle's Holland residence, and more than 30 marijuana plants were found at the residence in Sutton.

Each defendant faces a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, a minimum of two years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.